Improved latch for doors



NiTnD STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SAMUVEL W. FCSDICK AND A. C. DAKIN, OF CLINTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

`IMPROVED LATCH FOR DOORS.

Specification t'orming part of Letters Patent N0. 46,653, dated March 7, 1865.

To all whom, it may col/warn.-

Be it known that we, SAMUEL W. FOSDIGK and A. C. DAKIN, of Clinton, in the county ot' Worcester and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and Improved Latch for Doors; and we do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, which will enable those skilled in the art to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specitication, in which- Figure l is a front view of a closet, the doors of which are provided with our improved latch. Fig. 2 is a detached side view of our invention.

Similar letters ot' reference indicate like parts.

This invention relates to a new and improved latch for doors designed more espeeially for closet and cupboard doors.

The object of the invention is to obtain a latch composed of one piece, and so as to be self-fastening and admit of being operated, so that the door may be opened by a single movement or motion of the hand, thereby enabling a person to op` n a door when the hands are filled or occupied with articles to be deposited in the closet or cupboard.

A represents a closet provided with two doo1-s,B B, hung upon hinges a, as usual.

.The door B is provided with a latch, C, of

bent form, as shown in Fig. 3, and hung upon a pivot, b, the latch passing through a mortise in the door, and having its point passing through lips c, which project from a metalplate, D, secured to the outer side ot' the door. The outer end of the latch C passes through a slot, d, in the plate D, and has a knob, E, attached to it, and the inner end of said latch is provided at its under side with a shoulder, e, to form a catch, as shown clearly in Fig. 3.

To the upper surface of a shelf in the closet A, which shelf is in line with the inner part of the latch, there is secured by screws f a metal plate, F, provided with a hole, g, to receive the shoulder e of the latch C when the l door B is closed, as shown in Fig. 3, and thereby secure the door B in a closed state. inner part of the latch C will drop into the hole g of plate F by its own gravity, it being made or cast sufficiently heavy to admit of that result. By this arrangement it will be seen that the shoulder e ot the latch C may be raised out from the hole g ot the plate F by simply pulling or pressing down the knob E and the door B at the same time opened.

Thus by this simple means the doors are rendered self-fastening and capable of being opened by a single movement or motion of the hand, a finger applied to the knob E being sufiicient to accomplish the latter purpose.

This latch may be manufactured and applied at a very small cost, and will prove very convenient for the purpose specified.

Ve claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Batent- The latch C, formed with a horizontal gravitating hooked arm, e, adapted to catch in the plate F, and an upwardly-projecting arm provided with a knob, E, by a direct pull upon which the latch is retracted, all as herein described;

SAML. W. FOSDICK. A. C. DAKIN.

Witnesses:

C. H. WATERs, C. F. W. PARKHURST.

The 

